Local Relief Over Ministers Heathrow Runway Decision

3.48.08pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 2nd Dec 2003

Local environmental campaigners and residents, who have fought against the expansion of Heathrow, will be relived at the - widely reported - decision of Alistair Darling not to proceed with a new runway at Heathrow but to allow the next new runway in the South East to be at Stansted.

The decision is reportedly based on the fact that, if a new runway resulted in significantly higher flights, the pollution, combined with that originating on local roads, would breach statutory limits.

Vincent Cable said: "There have been some very confident reports that the Minister has decided against expanding Heathrow, at least for the foreseeable future. If so, there will be relief amongst the many residents who are concerned about levels of environmental pollution and about noise. The airlines are threatening legal action and warning of dire consequences if they don't get their way; but the government should stand its ground and not be brow beaten."

"There is a difference between their commercial interest and the national interest and the national interest requires a better regional balance and a proper allowance to be given to environmental factors. This decision will not affect the job security of those working at the airport but will cap a massive expansion of employment for which we have neither the labour nor the affordable housing in the area".